Door control mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. D. WHEELER ETAl. DooR CONTROL MECHANSM Ildj f3? 4.- 3 L Z IM' l Einw E E Il :L IL: E ..L

June 4, 1963 Filed Sept. 20, 1960 June 4, 1963 J. D. WHEELER ETAL 3,091,819

DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20. 1960 3,09 L8 l 9 Patented .lune 4, l 963 ice 3,091,819 DOR CNTROL MEQHANISM .lames D. Wheeler and Pelham H. Anderson, Jr., Birmingham, Ala., assiguors to Brasco Manufacturing Company, Harvey, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 20, 1960, Ser. No. 57,308 6 Claims. (Cl. Ztl-16) Our invention relates to a door control mechanism particularly for use in combination with a torsion bar closing arrangement and has particular reference to 'the arrangement of the torsion bar in the door and a braking or control shoe used in connection therewith which 1s capable of use with either a swinging door, that 1s a door which opens in two directions, or in combination with a door which opens in a single direction.

Another and further object of our invention is the provision of a mounting for a shoe forming a part of the control mechanism in which the shoe may be adjusted for various purposes to meet changing operations of the door.

Another and further lobject of our invention is the provision of a mounting for the door shoe which can be adjusted to compensate' wearing of the parts of the apparatus and which also may be adjusted to compensate for slight changes in the condition of a building due to the settling after it has been constructed in order to secure the proper and ecient operation of the door closing brake mechanism.

Another and further object of our invention is the provision of an adjustable mounting for a shoe forming a part of the braking mechanism of the door closing apparatus in which the rate of closure of the door can be controlled Vand also in which the rate of travel of the door at various stages of the closing operation can be controlled by the adjustment of the shoe relative to the other operating parts of the mechanism.

Another and further object of our invention is the provision of a shoe mounting which can be adjusted in such manner that the degree of force necessary to initiate either the closing or the opening movement of the door, depending upon the circumstances of use and other conditions of door operations, can be controlled.

These and other objects of our invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and in which- FIGURE l is an elevational view showing the door closing mechanism for a swinging door with a torsion bar mounted in the hinge stile of the door;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional detailed view on llines 2-2 or FIGURE l illustrating in detail the adjustable shoe mounting mechanism in the door frame header;

FIGURE 3 is a modified form of device adapted for use in a door swinging in one direction only and in connection with a torsion bar mounted in the door frame rather than in the hinge stile of the door;

FIGURE 4 is `a detailed elevational view of a bearing block mounted in the lower end of the door `stile and upon which the door rotates; and

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a bearing block mounted in the threshold of a door and in support position of the bracket shown in FIGURE 4 with the torsion rod being mounted in the door stile upon which the door rotates.

Referring now speciiically to the drawings and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a side member lil of thel usual door frame is shown which has a header 11 connected to the door frame member and a threshold 12 at the bottom of the door opening which spans the space between the door vframe member 10 and the frame member at the opposite side of the door opening (not shown) and forming no part of my invention. A portion of a door designated as a whole as 13 is shown which consists of a hinge stile 14, a top rail 15 and -a bottom rail 16, both the top and bottom rails l5 `and 16 being secured to the hinge stile 14 in the usual manner of metal doors common to this art. A bearing block 17 is mounted at the lower end of the door stile 14 and has a split bearing block 18 mounted therein having a convex lower surface 19 and is composed of two sections 20 and 21 secured together by screws 22, 22 with an opening 23 therethrough for purposes hereinafter described. A second lbearing block 24 is mounted in the threshold 12 and has a `concave upper surface 25 thereon into which the convex surface 19 of the bearing block 18 is itted. The bearing block 24 is composed of sections 26 and 27 held together by a screw 28 and has an opening 29 therethrough connected with an outward extending passage 30 `and into which the lower curved end 3l of a torsion bar 32 extends with the free end of the torsion bar extending into an opening formed in the threshold l2 where it is held in txed position and against rotation. The lower end 31 of the torsion bar 32 extends inward towards the door opening and is held in the same plane as is a swinging door in its closed position with the torsion rod 32 being mounted to rotate in either a clockwise `or counter-clockwise direction depending upon the direction of swinging of the door.

A yblock 33 is mounted in the upper end of the door stile 14 and has an opening 34 extending downward partially through the block 33 with the lower end portion 3S being reduced in size and extending therethrough and has an intersecting passage 36 therein into which the upper curved end 37 of the torsion bar 32 extends and is held in iixed position in the block 33 so as to rotate bodily therewith during the opening and closing of the door as the door rotates on the bearing block 24.

A hinge pin 38 is provided which extends into the recess 34 in the upper end of the block 33 and is keyed thereto by a pin 39. The pin 33 extends through a bushing 40 mounted in the header 11 of the door frame and into a socket 41 which is secured to the web 42 of an inverted U-shaped brake mechanism channel in the header -11 which extends into the door frame member 10, and has a depending end 43 thereon which is fitted against the rear wall of the side member 10 of the door frame forming a corner connecting member for the side member l0 and the header 11 of the door `frame. The web 42 also has side depending portions 44 and 45 which extend downwardly from the web 42 ofthe U-shaped member and are iitted against the side wal-ls of the header 11 and are welded or otherwise secured thereto to solidly x these members together.

A crank arm 45 is secured to the hinge pin 38 by a pin `46a and has a bifuroated member 47 at its outer end within which a roller 4S is mounted. A block 49 is provided preferably made of molded rubber or elastic material -similar to rubber, with T-shaped studs 50, 50' having at elongated heads 51, 51 thereon embedded therein, and having their free ends extending outward therefrom to the edges of the block 49 with the studs 50, 50 -being in register with the threaded openings 52, 52 formed in the depending portions 44 and 45 of the web 4.2 of the Ushaped member with screws 53, 53 mounted therein with the ends of the screws in abutting engagement with the ends of 'the studs 50, 50 so as the screws 53, 53 are turned up to varying positions, pressure is exerted on the block 49 thereby elongating the elastic block 49 in varying degrees and positions to maintain proper braking action in the torsion door closing mechanism. A pair of brake shoes 54 and 55 are mounted the upper end thereof with in one end of the block 49 by being molded therein 4or otherwise secured thereto.

rThe shoes 54 and 55 are 'segmental in shape and have elongated inner lcurved surfaces 56, 56 thereon having an elongated radii with reversely curved surfaces 57 `and 58 at the inner ends thereof onV shorter radius, the inner ends being adjacent each other but spaced a slight distanlce apart and which in eect forms a pocket within which the froller'48 is received in the closed position of the door. The roller 48 in the closed position therefore, rests against the reversely curved surfaces 57 and S and is supported therebetween so that movement of f the swinging door in either direction is resisted. This resistance may be overcome, however, by manual torce exerted on the door or by some other lmechanical op- Y erating mechanism lso that the swinging door may be opened in either position. Towards `the outer end of each of the shoes 54 and 55 are reversely curved 4surfarces 59 and 60 which surfaces 59 and 6B yare engaged 'by the roller 48 in the open position of the door regardless of which direction the door may be opened. Surfaces 61 and 62 are provided between the surfaces 56 and 59 on the shoe 54 and the surfaces 56 and 6o on the shoe 55 which are on a somewhat shorter radius `than are the surfaces 56, 56 so that as the door is opened towards its full position in either direct-ion `greater resist-ance is given to the travel of the roller 48, thereby decreasing the speed of travel of the door in the last `few stages of its opening movement. Towards the inner ends of the shoes are surfaces `63 and 64 on a slightly shorter radii than `are the surfaces 56, -56 so that the speed of the door in its closing operation is decreased just before it comes to fully closed position. As the door reaches its closing position, the roller 48 may leave the inner ends of one shoe and engageV the inner surface of the other adjacent shoe which also effectively checks the closing speed of the door and reduces it to a gentle closing operation.

The speed of the travel in the closing operation of the door can be controlled by pressure exerted upon the lroller 48 through ythe shoes 54 and 55 mounted upon the rubber block 49 by the proper adjustment of the screws 53, 53 relative to the studs 50, 50 and Iboth the desired closing speed of the door and also its resistance to opening pressure can thus be controlled by proper adjustment of the screws 53, 53 las well as changes which may take place in the door operating mechanism because of the settling of the building or the like.

In FIGURE 3, a modified form of apparatus is shown and in which a generally triangular shaped elastic .block 65 is provided which has studs v66, 66 embedded therein elongated heads 67, 67 thereon, which block 65 is held in position against the depending portion 44 of the web y42 mounted in Ithe top member 1l. of the door frame. The block 65 extends a short distance into the side frame member of the door frame and is secured to the side trame 10 and top frame member 11 by screws 68, 68 which extend through the top door frame with two of the screws 68, 68 in abutting engagement with the ends of studs 66, `66 having enlarged heads 67, 67 thereon, by means of which studs the 'block 65 .is expanded or permitted to contract to meet varying conditions of operation of the mechanism as described hereinabove.

In the Iform shown in FIGURE 3 a torsion rod 69 is mounted Iin Ithe yframe member 10 and has an arm 70 at a roller 71 mounted therein, this arrangement of torsion rod and door frame structure being like that shown in our co-pending application Serial No. 57,309 tiled September 20, 1960, 4and operates in precisely the same manner as does the torsion rod described in this above-identified application. A single shoe 72 is mounted in the curved side of the block 65, which shoe is somewhat saucer shaped in configuration and has an elongated surface 73` thereon which is curved on a comparatively long radius and terminates in a surface 74 and one end of the shoe 72 and a surface 75 and the opposite end of the shoe with the reversel'y curved surfaces 76-and 77 at the outer ends of the shoe 72. This mechanism operates for a door swinging in one `direction only and as shown in FlG- URE 3, the door swings in a clockwise direction to open position. The torsion Vbar has its ends extending from the body of the door in substantially a right angle to the normal plane of the door in its closed position so that as shown the door is in closed position with the roller 71 resting upon the reverse curved surface 77 of the shoe 72 Where the door is held in this position until manually moved therefrom. As the door is forced open the roller travels over the surfaces 75 and 73 of the shoe 72, in that order, until it reaches the surface 74 when -because of this curvature of the surface the speed of the door is checked -as the rol-ler reaches the surface 76 where it is held in open position until manually or otherwise moved towards a closed position. As the roller is moved from the surface 76 by manual movement the torsion rod takes over and continues the operation of closing the door. The closing operation is 'fairly rapid until the surface 75 is reached when the door movement is checked and the Vlast 20 of its closing movement of the door retarded toa point where its movement is quite slow. This adjustment is controlled by the proper adjustment of the screws 68, 68 relative to the studs 66, 66 so as to maintain proper pressure of the shoe 72 in the roller 71.

In assembling both forms of structure lthe elastic blocks 49 and `65 with the shoes 54 and S5 and 72 mounted thereon, the crank arms 46 and 70 and the upper hinge pins are mounted in the brake mechanism channel consisting of the web 42 depending end portion 43 and side depending portions 44 and 45 and this combination as a unit is placed in the top header 11 and door trame side member 10 and secured Ithereto. Thereafter the door and its assembled parts is mounted in .the door frame with the Iupper hinge pins fitted into the openings in the block 33 andthe pin 39 placed in position through openings in the side of the door stile or the door frame member 10 depending upon the location of the torsion rod, whatever the door frame or door stile, and the assembling is complete.

It is lbelieved that the operation of the device will be readily lunderstood from the foregoing description, and that by proper adjustment of the screws S3, 53 in the one form and the screws 68, 68 in the other form proper adjustment can be made in the proper retarding of the door as it closes.

. While we have described more or less' precisely the details of construction, we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves thereto, as We contemplate changes in form, the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l; The combination of a door frame having a side member and a header secured thereto, a spring biased door mounted in the said frame, a hinge pin mounted in the header and extending into the door for rotative movement therewith, an elastic block mounted in the said header having an angular extending edge portion, a braking shoe mounted upon the said block .along the angular edge portion having an arcuate-shaped braking surface thereon, an arm on the hinge pin in engagement with the shoe on the said block and expansion means in the said block whereby the frictional relationship of the shoe and the arm is controlled.

2. The combination of a door frame having a side member and a header secured thereto, a spring biased door mounted in the said frame, a hinge pin mounted in the header and extending into the door for rotative movement therewith, an elastic biock mounted in the said header having an arcuateV edge portion, a segmental braking shoe mounted on the said block in the arcuate edge portion the said braking shoe having a main arcuate section and having reversely turned convex-shaped end portions, an arm n the hinge pin in engagement with the shoe on the said block and expansion means in the said block whereby the frictional relationship of the shoe and the arm is controlled.

3. The combination of a door frame having a side member and a header secured thereto, a spring biased door mounted in the said `frame, a hinge pin mounted in the header and extending into the door -for rotative movement therewith, an elastic block mounted in the said header having an arcuate edge portion, segmental braking shoes mounted on the said block in the arcuate edge portion, an arm on the hinge -pin in engagement with the shoes on the said yblock and means mounted within the said block ywhereby the longitudinal dimensions of the said block may 'be altered.

4. In combination with a door frame having a side mem-ber and a header secured thereto, a spring biased `door mounted in the said frame and control means for the door comprising an elastic Ablock mounted in the header having an arcuate edge portion, an arcuate shaped braking shoe secured to the elastic block on its arcuate shaped edge portion having reversely curved portions at each of its ends, expansion members in the said elastic block, a hinge pin fixed in the door and extending into the header .and a crank arm xed on the said hinge pin in e11- gagement with the shoe on the said elastic block.

5. In combination with a door `frame having a side member and a header secured thereto, a spring biased door mounted in the said frame and control means for the door comprising a `U-shaped casing mounted in the header, an elastic block mounted in the header having an arcuate edge portion, an arcuate shaped braking shoe secured to the elastic Iblock on its arcuate shaped edge portion, T- shaped studs mounted in the said block, threaded members in the Icasing extending into the said block in `abutting engagement with the T-shaped studs, a hinge pin xed in the door and extending into the header and a crank arm fixed on the said hinge pin in engagement with the shoe on the said elastic block.

6. In combination with a door `frame having a side member and a header secured thereto, a spring biased door mounted in the said 4frame and control means for the door comprising a U-shaped 4casing mounted in the header, an elastic yblock mounted in the header having an arcuate edge portion, an arcuate shaped braking shoe secured to lthe elastic block on its arcuate shaped edge portion, T- shaped studs embedded in the said Iblock having their shank portions extending toward the side edges of the block, threaded members in the casing `in axial abutment with the shank portions of the studs and in abutting engagement with the said shank portion of the studs.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,043,976 Schonitzer June 9, 1936 2,337,350 Ryals Dec. 21, 1946 2,413,475 Walts Dec. 31, 1946 2,700,175 Carlson Jan. 25, 1955 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A DOOR FRAME HAVING A SIDE MEMBER AND A HEADER SECURED THERETO, A SPRING BIASED DOOR MOUNTED IN THE SAID FRAME, A HINGE PIN MOUNTED IN THE HEADER AND EXTENDING INTO THE DOOR FOR ROTATIVE MOVEMENT THEREWITH, AN ELASTIC BLOCK MOUNTED IN THE SAID HEADER HAVING AN ANGULAR EXTENDING EDGE PORTION, A BRAKING SHOE MOUNTED UPON THE SAID BLOCK ALONG THE ANGULAR EDGE PORTION HAVING AN ARCUATE-SHAPED BRAKING SURFACE THEREON, AN ARM ON THE HINGE PIN IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHOE ON THE SAID BLOCK AND EXPANSION MEANS IN THE SAID BLOCK WHEREBY THE FRICTIONAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE SHOE AND THE ARM IS CONTROLLED. 